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Tractor FC [5] v's Fred's Scratch [10], 11th March, 2002.
Tractor's Disciplined by Auld's Elders

On paper it was a fair game but in the end a youthful Auld's Elders overcame a powerful Tractor team to record one of the biggest shocks of the season. At first the Tractor's stormed into an early lead when Tom 'pint sized' Wilkins slipped in a cheeky below the bar. His celebrations inspired a Tractor team who seized on the psycological advantage and soon built on their early lead with a couple of swiftly sunk shots. To their credit, the maturity of Auld's Elders meant that they stuck to the cask in hand, and soon the scores leveled on three units each.

Seemingly handling the situation well, the Tractor's were the first to stumble when Ashley Cow-man cleaverly glanced his shot off three defenders into the base of the Tractor net. Almost as one, the Elders mid-field began to play like the Essex boys they were and under the example of Fred, they were soon crashing and burning through our defence, though on the occasions when they got close, guilty of shooting too early.

At this stage the Tractor defense was looking suspect and so it was a surprise when the Tractor's won good ball in the area through Rountree, fed it wide to Pineapple and finally placed home another past the outstretched keeper. This lead was quickly stolen by the Elders who produced a looping cross that missed attackers, defenders and the goalie in a goal mouth scramble, which saw the ball finally come to nest in the side netting, 5-4. For the last time in the game the Tractors bounced back by levelling the score at 5-5 after an increasingly omnipresent golie gifted a shot deflection into a bemused Gaffer rooted to the opposition line.

From then on it was the Elders who with a clear head set about polishing off the Tractors. As their shooting improved more and more curved shots found the back of the net. At the other end the Elder's Brazilian goalie spread himself between the posts like a pro. 'Fred said at the start that his team were better on benders then we would be, and he's right,' said Ed adding, 'We just had to score more. I feel awful, my head's spinning. I'd swallow my pride but I'm not sure I can keep it down. Just seeing those birds laughing at us makes me ill!' An embracing Sparrow and Hawky were ecstatic with the result. 'It's great to see the strength of a squad with depth. The lads were happy to play well, but most of all they were happy to record three pints. For some that's been a career dream in itself.'

For the Tractaz: Tom Wilk, NNB, Martin Keown, Sucky, PNB, Dave, Pineapple
For Fred's Scratch: Ointment, Sparrow, Hawky, Plasters, Mika, Crispius, Aloe Vera